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Minnehaha County, South Dakota public records

In Minnehaha County, deeds are recorded by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds; property values come from the Minnehaha County Director of Equalization; court files are kept by the Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Minnehaha County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Questions people ask
  16. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  17. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds3—$1.00 per page2
Property values and ownersMinnehaha County Director of Equalization4Property search5—
Property tax billsMinnehaha County Treasurer6Tax bill search7—
Court casesMinnehaha County Clerk of Courts8Circuit Court, Second Judicial Circuit9Statewide record search by mail/email form: $20 per name (criminal from Jan 1989, civil from Jan 2006); $5 if certified as for a pending cause of action; no fee for named parties, legal representatives and qualified agencies. Clerk fees: $15 for an authenticated/exemplified copy; civil money judgment web search $4 per name/date search10
Marriage recordsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds3—$15 for each copy11
Divorce recordsMinnehaha County Clerk of Courts, Civil/Small Claims Office8—Certificate fee: $15 per certified or informational divorce record from DOH12
Birth certificatesMinnehaha County Register of Deeds11—$15.00 per copy, charged whether or not the record is found11
Death certificatesMinnehaha County Register of Deeds11—$15.0011
Probate and willsMinnehaha County Clerk of Courts8——
Business names (DBA)Minnehaha County Register of Deeds3—Filing $10.00; renewal $10.00; renew every fifth year13

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Minnehaha County are recorded by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds.3

Records from
Land records date back to the early 1870's14
Copy fee
$1.00 per page2
Certified copy fee
$5.00 certification fee, per the county fee table2
Certified fee statute
$5 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page (includes certificate and seal)15
Recording fee
$30.00 for a deed2
Recording fee over50
Documents over 50 pages add $2.00 for each additional page.2
Transfer fee
$1.00 per thousand, $.50 per $5002
How to order
Use the "Document Copy Requests" form linked in the Register of Deeds menu, or contact or visit the office at 415 N. Dakota Ave. (605) 367-4223.16

How deeds work in South Dakota

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Minnehaha County Director of Equalization sets property values4; the Minnehaha County Treasurer bills and collects the tax6.

Tax payment fee
Credit card convenience fee 2.35%; online electronic check available; delinquent taxes cannot be paid online.7
Appealing a value
The county Appeal Process Guide page sends owners to the SD Department of Revenue appeal guide; dates are in stateCalendar.18
State calendar
2026 calendar: assessment notices mailed by March 1; written appeal to the local board of equalization by March 12 (board meets March 16-20); appeal to the county board via the county auditor by April 7 (board April 14-May 5); appeal to the Office of Hearing Examiners by May 15; or to circuit court within 30 days after notice of the county board's (or OHE's) decision19
Sales data
Previous sales information is requested from the Director of Equalization through the contact form.20

How property tax works in South Dakota

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Circuit Court, Second Judicial Circuit (state Unified Judicial System)Unified Judicial System: Supreme Court plus circuit courts (trial courts, seven judicial circuits) with magistrate courts handling misdemeanors, minor civil and small claims; records kept by the county Clerk of Courts21Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts (Second Judicial Circuit, state Unified Judicial System)ujspars.sd.gov PARS (Public Access Record Search) - summaries of public criminal cases (1989-present unless sealed) and protection orders, $20 per search; eCourts - free registration, case summaries by party name or case number; Civil Money Judgment search; public access terminals in every courthouse9Free search, fee for copies
Fees
Statewide record search by mail/email form: $20 per name (criminal from Jan 1989, civil from Jan 2006); $5 if certified as for a pending cause of action; no fee for named parties, legal representatives and qualified agencies. Clerk fees: $15 for an authenticated/exemplified copy; civil money judgment web search $4 per name/date search10
Public terminals
Two public computer terminals with court case information: outside the Civil/Small Claims Office on the second floor and in the Clerk of Courts reception area on the first floor.8
Pre records
Criminal cases before 1989 must be requested from the clerk of courts in the county where filed9

Criminal records and background checks

Court search
Public court-record name search (not a DCI check): PARS, $20 per search; can be used for a background check on yourself, another person or a business9
State repository
The Attorney General compiles state criminal history information (the 'rap sheet') under SDCL ch. 23-5. Criminal history information is exempt from open-records disclosure22
Sex offender
South Dakota Sex Offender Registry, maintained by the AG's Division of Criminal Investigation: sor.sd.gov23

How South Dakota courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds.3

Marriage license fee
$40.00, cash only24
Copy fee
$15 for each copy11
Records from
Minnehaha County marriage records date back to 1872; marriages from 1950 to the present can be issued by any SD Register of Deeds.11
Who may order
Certified copies: registrant, spouse, child, parent, guardian, next of kin, authorized/designated agent, or someone showing a personal or property right; anyone may get an informational copy25
How to order
Complete the South Dakota Vital Records Request form, have it notarized or provide ID, and pay the fee.11

South Dakota marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce decrees: Clerk of Courts in the county where filed. Divorce certificates: only the DOH State Vital Records Office26

Certificate fee
$15 per certified or informational divorce record from DOH12

Birth certificates

Kept by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds (birth, death and marriage copies, burial permits).11

Fee
$15.00 per copy, charged whether or not the record is found11
Records from
Birth records filed with the SD Department of Health date back to approximately 1905.11
Access
Not open to the public under state law.11
Payment
Cash preferred; mail orders use a money order payable to the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds plus a self-addressed stamped envelope; debit or credit cards carry an added fee.11
Who may order
Certified copies: registrant, spouse, child, parent, guardian, next of kin (grandparents, siblings), authorized agent (attorney, physician, funeral director), designated agent, or a person with a personal or property right. Informational copies go to any applicant. The applicant must show a government-issued photo ID (State, Tribal or Federal) or two alternative documents; mail applications need a copy of the ID or a notarized signature27

Ordering a South Dakota birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds (birth, death and marriage copies, burial permits).11

Fee
$15.0011
Records from
Any SD Register of Deeds may issue death records from January 1, 1960 to the present.11
Burial permits
Burial permits from the 1920s are available to the public with no search restrictions.11
Who may order
Same eligibility as other vital records (registrant's spouse, children, parents, next of kin, authorized/designated agents, personal or property right); informational copies to anyone25

Ordering a South Dakota death certificate

Probate records and wills

Circuit court (Clerk of Courts in each county) handles probate under the Uniform Probate Code28

Fees
$75 to probate an estate; $2 for safekeeping or filing a will29

Finding a will or probate case in South Dakota

Business names (DBA)

File with the county Register of Deeds or online at the Secretary of State.13

Fee
Filing $10.00; renewal $10.00; renew every fifth year13
Corporations
Corporations file with the Secretary of State.13

Voter records

Kept by the Minnehaha County Auditor / Elections.30

Duties
The Auditor handles voter registration and elections.30
Access
Public: the Secretary of State posts the complete statewide voter registration file on its website weekly (Mondays) and keeps a free rolling five-year historical archive; SSN, driver license/ID numbers and month/day of birth are not public31

Historical records

County records
Many records at the Register of Deeds date back to the 1870's or earlier.3
State archives
South Dakota State Archives (State Historical Society), 900 Governors Drive, Pierre; research room by appointment Mon-Fri; mail/email research for a fee32

Good to know about Minnehaha County records

  • The Register of Deeds also issues state birth, death and marriage copies.3
  • Marriage license fee is cash only, and applicants should arrive by 4:45 pm.24
  • Military discharge recording carries no charge.2
  • The old Property Information System closed on March 1, 2023; property data moved to Beacon.5
  • Register of Deeds warns that internet "do-it-yourself" deed forms may be unrecordable.33
  • Burial permits are public, though birth, death and marriage records are not.11

Office addresses, phones and hours

Minnehaha County Register of Deeds

Address
Administration Building, 1st Floor, 415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 571043
Mail
415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 571043
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour)3

Minnehaha County Director of Equalization

Address
Former Extension Building, 220 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls, SD 571044
Mail
220 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls, SD 571044
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour)4

Minnehaha County Treasurer

Address
Administration Building, 1st Floor, 415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 571046
Mail
415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 571046
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour); no transactions begin after 4:30 p.m.6

Minnehaha County Auditor (clerk to the County Commission)

Address
Administration Building, 1st Floor, 415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 5710430
Mail
415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 5710430
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour)30

Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts (Second Judicial Circuit, state Unified Judicial System)

Address
425 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-24708
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday8

Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts, Civil/Small Claims Office

Address
425 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-24708
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday8

Minnehaha County Clerk of Courts (no separate probate court)

Address
425 N. Dakota Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104-24708
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday8

Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office

Address
320 W. 4th St., Sioux Falls, SD 5710434
Mail
320 W. 4th St., Sioux Falls, SD 5710434
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour)34

Minnehaha County Register of Deeds (birth, death and marriage copies, burial permits)

Address
Administration Building, 1st Floor, 415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 571043
Mail
415 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 5710411
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour)3

Minnehaha County Auditor / Elections

Address
Administration Building, 1st Floor, 415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 5710430
Mail
415 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 5710430
Hours
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday (includes the noon hour)30

Minnehaha County GIS Mapping (Open Data)

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Minnehaha County?

The Minnehaha County Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Use the "Document Copy Requests" form linked in the Register of Deeds menu, or contact or visit the office at 415 N. Dakota Ave. (605) 367-4223. Plain copies: $1.00 per page. Certified copies: $5.00 certification fee, per the county fee table.3162

How much is a birth certificate in Minnehaha County?

$15.00 per copy, charged whether or not the record is found.11

Where do I get a divorce decree in Minnehaha County?

Divorce decrees: Clerk of Courts in the county where filed. Divorce certificates: only the DOH State Vital Records Office.26

How much does a marriage license cost in Minnehaha County?

$40.00, cash only.24

How do I look up who owns a property in Minnehaha County?

Use the property search of the Minnehaha County Director of Equalization: beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx5

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Minnehaha County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in South Dakota with a full guide: Pennington County. Every county in the state: South Dakota county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 35 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Recording FeesMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  3. Register of DeedsMinnehaha County
  4. Director of EqualizationMinnehaha County
  5. Real Estate InformationMinnehaha County Director of Equalization
  6. TreasurerMinnehaha County
  7. Property tax payment pageMinnehaha County Treasurer
  8. Minnehaha County court pageSD Unified Judicial System
  9. Court Records SearchSouth Dakota Unified Judicial System
  10. SDCL § 16-2-29.5 Records search feeSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  11. Vital RecordsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  12. Vital Records FeesSouth Dakota Department of Health
  13. Filing of Fictitious or Business NameMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  14. Recording Real Estate DocumentsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  15. SDCL § 7-9-15 Register of deeds feesSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  16. State and County FormsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  17. Minnehaha County homeMinnehaha County
  18. Appeal Process GuideMinnehaha County Director of Equalization
  19. Property Owner 2026 Property Tax Appeal Process GuideSouth Dakota Department of Revenue
  20. SalesMinnehaha County Director of Equalization
  21. Court StructureSouth Dakota Unified Judicial System
  22. SDCL § 23-5-11 Confidential criminal justice informationSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  23. South Dakota Sex Offender RegistrySouth Dakota Attorney General - Division of Criminal Investigation
  24. Marriage License RequirementsMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  25. SDCL § 34-25-52 Copies of vital records--FeesSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  26. Order Vital RecordsSouth Dakota Department of Health
  27. Vital Records Eligibility & IdentificationSouth Dakota Department of Health
  28. SDCL § 29A-1-201 Uniform Probate Code definitionsSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  29. SDCL § 16-2-29 Fees charged by clerk of courtsSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  30. Auditor/ElectionsMinnehaha County
  31. SDCL § 12-4-37 Statewide voter registration file--Published to websiteSouth Dakota Legislature (SDCL)
  32. Plan Your Research Visit / Research ServicesSouth Dakota State Historical Society - State Archives
  33. For the RecordMinnehaha County Register of Deeds
  34. Sheriff's OfficeMinnehaha County
  35. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau